AAAIM Turns Over Ahon Siargao, Launches KaBIKOLan Ta! Initiative

After three years of sustained efforts, the Alumni Association of AIM, Inc. (AAAIM) officially turned over its Ahon Siargao initiative to the Municipality of Burgos on May 22, 2025. The project, launched in response to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Odette, successfully rehabilitated eight Child Development Centers (CDCs) and strengthened their ecosystems to support better learning and nutrition outcomes for young children through the collective support of partners and volunteers.

Building on this experience, AAAIM, through IMDMSDPI, is now advancing a new development initiative in Bicol. International Movement of Development Managers-Sustainable Development Projects, Inc. (IMDMSDPI) is a consultancy arm of International Movement of Development Managers (IMDM), the association of all MDM graduates of the Asian Institute of Management.

In June 2025, IMDMSDPI Director and Vice President Coratec Jimenez (MDM 2002) met with Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to explore collaborative programs aligned with the city’s vision. The proposed initiative, conceptualized by IMDMSDPI President Pons Carpio (MDM 2003), focuses on four key areas: early childhood education, teacher training using the CVIF-Dynamic Learning Program, bamboo development, and disaster risk reduction.

To bring stakeholders together, AAAIM, led by Chairman Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. (MBM 1976) with Vice Chair Sonie Aguilar (MBM 1986), organized a Collaborative Conference in Naga City on October 19–20, 2025. The event gathered experts and leaders from various sectors to champion the initiative’s core components, alongside AAAIM Board members Ofelia Odilao-Bisnar (MBM 1988), Bembette Ladip (MDM 2004), Fr. Tito Soquino (MDM 1999), the AIM Alumni Bicol Chapter President Roden Rojo (MDM 1998), Jason Keith Bonaga (EMDRCM 2020), Jojo Gumino (AIM-DBI), other AIM alumni, and over 100 participants from government, private institutions, and civil society.

The initiative, now called KaBIKOLan Ta!, is officially underway. In April 2026, training for Child Development Center teachers in Naga City was organized by the LGU through its ECCD Unit, with support from Angat Buhay, Tanglaw ni Teresa, and Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. Mayor Leni Robredo visited the training to encourage the teachers and express her gratitude to them and to the partners. KaBIKOLan Ta supported eight Child Development teachers! They attended in full and participated actively, benefiting from this activity.

This was followed by a convergence meeting on bamboo development involving multiple agencies and organizations, with farmer training programs set to begin in June 2026 to promote sustainable livelihoods.

Led by IMDMSDPI, the project brings together partners across sectors and will initially be implemented in Camarines Sur, with plans to expand across the Bicol region.

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